Zinedine Zidane revealed the squad call-up for Saturday’s La Liga visit by Espanyol. The biggest news is the return of attacker Gareth Bale, who has been out since November.
The Welshman had to go through surgery and his recovery was handled with patience by the medical and technical staff. He’s had recurring injuries since he arrived at the Bernabéu, so it was safer to let him heal properly, rather than rush him
Without him, his teammates still managed to win the FIFA Club World Cup, stay at the top in La Liga and win the first leg of the UEFA Champions League clash against Napoli.
The coach also surprised with his decision to leave out Luka Modrić, Keylor Navas, and Karim Benzema for this match. Captain Sergio Ramos is out because of the injury he picked up on Wednesday.
The Croatian is most likely out because of fatigue. His presence is essential for Real, and keeping him fresh is the best way to go. Karim Benzema’s absence is a bit more surprising, given his excellent performance against Napoli.
Finally, Keylor Navas being out is probably the most controversial decision. He’s been under fire lately because of some mistakes seen in recent matches. However, since the Copa del Rey is no longer active, rewarding Casilla with minutes is logical.
